Union suit



June 1 1926.

A. z. WILLIAMS UNION SUIT 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed August 29 a agizuiiiv 3 5;

ti mvn gwuentoz June 1 1926. 1,587,099

A. L. 2. WILLIAMS UNION SUIT Filed August 29, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J vwewkoc June 1 1926.

L. Z. WILLIAMS UNION SUIT 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed August 29 undergarments and more particularly to Patented June 1, 1926.

ALPHONZO I 2. WILLIAMS, on CHICAGO, rtmnors.

UNION SUIT.

Application filed August 29, 1923. Serial n6. 659,910; I i

This invention relates to improvements in union suits.

An object of the invention is to provide a union suit so constructed and so provided with confronting closure flaps, that the natural functions of the body may be attended to without the necessity of disturbing the arrangement of any of the closure flaps, although the front flaps may be opened if desired.

In ordinary union suits, the seat flap is usually so arranged and closed in such manner that it is liable to accidentally open and, when stooping, the buttons are placed under considerable stress and are liable to be torn off. Therefore, it is another important objectof the present invention to so construct the suit that there will be no liability of the seat flap accidentally opening and causing discomfort and annoyance.

Also, the ordinary union suit is constructed in such manner that the seat flap is of one-ply thicknessor, in other words, con stitutes the major portion of the seat of the garment and as it is liable to gap between V the buttons the wearer is exposed to the cold.

Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of seat flaps in a garment of this type, the arrangement being such that the wearer will not be exposed to the cold and gapping of the main closure flap be tween the buttons will not expose the outer clothing to contact with the skin.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a union suit embodying the present invention, the suit being of a type designed for wear by males.

Figure 2 is a similar view in detail illustrating the front flaps of the suit thrown open.

Figure 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the suit.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the modification of the suit to adapt it for female Wear.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the suit shown in Figure 5, the front flap being closed.

Figure 7 is a rear view of the suit shown in Figure 6, the seat flaps being closed.

Figure,8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the rear flaps open.

In that form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4c inclusive, the suit is designed for male wear, and thesame comings or sleeves, either as may-, be desired, as

indicated by the numeral 3. :,This. portion of the garment is open atitsfront from the neck opening to a point gaboveiand. adjacent the waistline and isgadapted to beclosed I by buttons 4, as shown in thedrawings, Be-

low the open front of; the-upperportmn 1 of the garment, the garment is cutaway at thefront in a lateral directiomas at -5, the cut away portion extending downwardly substantially to the crotch of, the garment and.

being defined by #an outwardly laterally curved hem 6. The front of the garment is formed at the opposite side witha flap which is indicated by theqznumeral7 and which may constitute an integral part therewith or be made separate therefrom and stitched thereto and this fiapisof fa width and height to extend completely over the relaare engageable with the. buttons 8 so as to hold the flap in closedposition. In order that the flap 7 may be held open ,soas to completely uncover the openingprovided at the front of the garment,-a series of buttons 11 is secured upon-,the garment opposite the buttons 8 and are so spaced as to be accommodated by the buttonholes 10 upon the hem 9. The crotch of the garment, indicated by the numeral 12, is closed by a flap 13 which is stitched to the inner sides of the leg portions 14; of the garment within the crotch and is adapted to be dropped down to the position shown in Figure 2, so as to clear the body of the wearer or to be supported in an elevated position, as shown in Figure 1, in which latter instance, certain of the buttons 8 upon the garment are engaged through buttonholes 16 provided in the upper corners of the flap 13, a button 15 upon the flap 13 being engaged through a buttonhole 8 in the flap 7.

In order that the wearer of the garment may conveniently urinate, the closure flap 7 is formed with a slit 18 extending vertically of the lower portion of the said flap 7 tively large open front thus provided. Butsubstantially at the vertical middle of the flap, and in order that this slit may be normally closed, a closure flap 19 is disposed against the inner side of the flap 7 and extends over the slit 18 and is provided with a slot 20 oiiset with relation to the said slit 18, it being understood that the closure flap 19 may be displaced laterally in preparing "for urination.

The garment is provided at its back with the usual opening which is normally closed, in the present invention by main and auxiliar'yfiaps indicated by the numerals 21 and 22. The flap 22 is provided with buttons 23 and the flap 21 has buttonholes 24 to receive the said buttons 23, the flaps being in this manner connected together in closed relation and with the flap 21 overlapping the outer face of the fla 22. Due to this overlapping of the flaps and the fact that they are of substantially the same area, a

double-ply seat will be provided for the garment, thus protecting the wearer from cold and insuring against contact of the skin with the outer garments in the event of any sagging or bulging of the margin of the outer flap between the buttons.

Figure 6 illustrates a front view of a garment similar to the garment hereinbefore described but designed for female wear, the flap of this garment, indicated by the numeral 25, being of substantially the same form and held closed and open in substantially the same manner as the flap 7 in the previously described form except that, or course, the flap 25 is not provided with the slit 18, as in the garment adapted for male wear. Likewise, the garment when arranged for female wear, is devoid of the crotch flap 13, and the crotch will, as usual, be left open. Figure 7 of the drawings illustrates a rear view of the garment shown in Fig ure 6, and in this form the numerals 26 and 27 indicate respectively the main and auxiliary flaps for the seat of the garment. Figure 8 of the drawings illustrates the structure shown in Figure 7 but with the flaps thrown open, the open crotch of the garment being indicated by the numeral 28.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A union suit having an opening in its front extending from the crotch to a oint adjacent the waistline and in-creasec in width in a downward direction, a crotch flap secured at one marginal portion to the suit at the lower side of the said opening, buttons upon the suit at opposite sides of the opening a closure flap united to the suit at one side of the opening and dispos able to close the opening and overlap the said crotch flap, the said crotch flap and the closure flap having buttonholes for mutual engagement with the said buttons, a series of buttons at the other side of the said opening, and a series of buttons laterally displaced beyond the first mentioned side of the said opening, the closure flap having a marginal series of buttonholes engageable interchangeably with the buttons of the two series whereby in one instance to hold the closure flap in closed position and in the other instance to hold the flap in open position.

2. A union suit having an opening in its front extending from the crotch to a point adjacent the waistline, a flap for normally closing the'opening, the said flap having a vertical incision therein adjacent the crotch, and a flap upon the first mentioned flap normally overlying and closing said incision and having an opening normally out of liue with the said incision, and adapted to be brought into registry therewith.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALPHONZO'L. Z. l/VILLIAMS. -l 

